"Throughout the Celestial World, all, regardless of background, are welcome."
This was the first time such a Disciple Recruitment Ceremony occurred within Heaven, the first time cultivators of all sides, lineages and ranks gathered without discrimination to attend the same event. Millions of prospective disciples swarmed the Sea Dream City, cramming their way toward the temple's Second Celestial Mountain now occupied by the Myriad Dreams Valley.
But they weren't the only ones. Honored guests from the various Divine and Cardinal Sects now filled the Sea Dream Temple's halls, awaiting the Ceremony's start. But while the rogue cultivators and disciples of low-level sects saw this as the opportunity of a lifetime, high-ranking sect tycoons scoffed at the riffraff this event gathered.
"This move reeks desperation. How could a reputable sect welcome anyone? Clearly, this – High Elder – wishes to use quantity to make up for nonexistent quality."
A short, brown-haired man scoffed at the Myriad Dreams Sect's move. He was Kubera, Tara's elder brother, and the Divine Earth Temple's new master. Most high-ranking deities agreed. Although their previous recruitment practices indeed discriminated against other lineages and left many talents unable to carve out a future for themselves, at the very least, they maintained high standards.
Among the Devas and Spirits filling their sects, talentless peons didn't exist. The majority could, in a given time, reach the limit of their bloodline. But with that Rudra's system, even good for nothings with minimal cultivation talents and no hope to reach godhood dared show themselves!
Waves upon waves each bringing in millions of prospective disciples cluttered those high-ranking deities, filling them with surging waves of contempt. One, however, disagreed.
"You misunderstand. Those millions of prospective disciples are the pool. A pool that represents unimaginable potential. Now you look at those with low talent, but ignore the ones with sky-high comprehension abilities. Without witnessing Rudra's recruitment process, how can you make a judgment?
I wager that across this pool of tens of millions, he might not pick more than 1%."
A golden-haired youth replied while his eyes, as scorching as the sun, stared at the incoming contestants. He was Pandu, Surya's eldest son, and the new Great Elder of the Primal Sun Sect.
Leaders such as Kubera and Pandu didn't appear during the auction; therefore, Konrad had yet to take control of them. Not that it mattered. Right now, from prospective disciples to guest deities, all eyes stared at the clouded mountain behind which Heaven's new hot topic lay.
That mist alone proved that the new Myriad Dreams Valley possessed the backing of top Formation Gods. Some believed that Rudra handpicked one from his Moon Refining Palace slaves while others pointed fingers at Rati.
Only Pandu, who received Kama's intel, knew Rudra to be the Formation God behind this sublime work. If only for those skills, the Primal Sun Sect would have been willing to offer him an elder position. A pity that his name now echoed humiliation for Kama, Pandu's very own uncle.
And thinking about the incoming play, he couldn't help but sneer. The mist dispersed, revealing a pearl-white mountain soaring with vast celestial energies. Dazzling magenta rays shafted through the clouds, coalescing in a magenta orb that seized all eyes and eclipsed Heaven's beauty.
From that orb, Konrad – in his Mara disguise – descended alongside his " male Nagas and Moon Spirit servants," dropping with peerless elegance and suspending himself one-hundred feet above the mountain's highest tower.
"Ladies and gentlemen, deities from all sides, welcome to my Myriad Dreams Valley's inauguration. Though my Myriad Dreams Valley may have hundreds of Recruitment Ceremonies, there will only be one inauguration. As Valley Lord, it is my delight to see so many friends gather to honor it. Thank you."
Konrad began with a polite bow, a bow the gathered elites and leaders immediately returned. Although many of them hid treacherous motives, this wasn't the proper time to give no consideration for face. Inwardly Konrad sneered.
"The rules are simple. My Myriad Dreams Valley prepared nine passes for you to cross. All lead to the Valley's inner court. Whoever can reach it shall become my Myriad Dreams Valley's new disciple. You have three hours."
Konrad declared, and waved his hand, causing a surge of magenta light to split the contestants into nine groups to challenge the passes.
"That simple?"
Some couldn't help but ask. Although the mountain was high of eight thousand kilometers, on the scene, the weakest were still Star Fusing Saints. How could that possibly stump them? Of course, those were fools' remarks. The astute soon realized that the passes couldn't be that easily traveled.
A gravity play? Illusions? Mind control and infighting? In a way or another, the many would be eliminated to leave the few behind. And indeed, they were right. Well, almost. The passes were all laced in a Devil Formation that tested a single thing:
The Dao Heart.
The stronger the Dao Heart, the easier the travel would be. However, even those with strong hearts wouldn't find it simple. Without a heart as solid as a rock, there was no way to reach the top. But once they did, the Devil Formation would link their soul to Konrad's will, thereby making them loyal followers.
"That simple, best of luck to you."
Konrad replied and alongside his disguised legionaries, vanished to return within the sect's inner court. The contest thus began.
*THUD* *THUD* *THUD* *THUD*
The earth shook under a human stampede as the millions of prospective disciples crammed the nine passes to force their way toward the inner court. Alas, they'd not even taken three steps that 90% collapsed on the spot! Originally, the stampede gathered around 270 million, with 30 million charging each pass. But the trial had barely begun that only 2.7 million remained!
Such an alarming sight startled the onlooking deities who couldn't understand the root of this outcome.
"It's not testing physique, bloodline, talents, cultivation or wisdom, it only tests the will."
Rati realized in awe, and by the time the third wave collapsed, many other Gods had reached the same conclusion. Talents and trash alike collapsed in shocking numbers, with only those of startling determination moving onward. But while some struggled to make their way up, a scant few were literally breezing through the passes!
Without a shred of doubt, those possessed unbreakable Dao Hearts.
But before such a trial, many deities scoffed.
"Utter foolishness. Although a recruitment based on the heart rather than innate abilities seems optimal, without talent to back it up, what purpose does unbreakable will serve? Among those most likely to succeed, less than 1% show potential for godhood. What can you possibly do with that?"
Kubera scoffed, and this time, Pandu didn't disagree. This trial was idealistic foolishness. Although a solid Dao Heart was of critical importance on the cultivation road, that alone would never make a God.
That Rudra was crippling himself!
Or so they thought. As far as Konrad was concerned, the Devil Road's strongest foundation was the heart. Did talent make it easier? Undoubtedly. But talent, he could change.
As for the Dao Heart, he could easily ruin or control it, but bettering it was a tedious task that required too much investment. On a large scale, that wasn't viable. At least not until he broke through to the Prime Devil Realm.
Those that successfully crossed the passes were destined to become sharp blades in his hands.
